Ashraful files appeal against ban

Mohammad Ashraful has appealed to reduce the eight-year ban slapped on him by the BPL anti-corruption tribunal for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League. Shihab Chowdhury, the Dhaka Gladiators managing director who was banned for 10 years, has also made the plea, sent to retired justice Mohammad Abdur Rashid, the BCB's disciplinary panel chief.

"My lawyer has sent the appeal papers to the disciplinary committee's chief," Ashraful said. "I want to return to cricket before my eight-year ban is up. That's why I have made the appeal."

According to the BCB's anti-corruption code, Ashraful and Shihab have made national level appeals, and if they fail to convince the disciplinary panel chief, they can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

The ICC and BCB too will have to send in their appeal by July 22, the last day of filing appeals. The game's governing body was left "disappointed" by the tribunal's ruling, saying that compelling evidence of corruption by a number of individuals had not been taken into account properly.